THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502250015
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LYNN FEIGENBAUM
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Jim Wheaton was excited Wednesday when he read the Pilot's banner headline, ``Down syndrome breakthrough?''
The Norfolk attorney assumed the new discovery would help his daughter and others with Down syndrome. But that wasn't the case.
The possible breakthrough, said the story, was that the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine will screen embryos to ensure the birth of babies free of the genetic disorder.
Now that's exciting news, too. But it's not what the big words implied.
``When I saw the headline,'' said Wheaton, ``I thought I'd read about some discovery about medical ways to ameliorate the effects of the extra 21st chromosome, not disposing of the embryo.''
Annie Wheaton was born 20 months ago and has been a ``joyful'' experience for her parents. ``I don't consider it a `breakthrough,' '' said Wheaton, ``that we have figured out a way to keep my daughter from being born.''
Wheaton also balked at other loaded language. ``Pre-emptive strike,'' began the story's smaller headline, followed by, ``Jones Institute to weed out embryos before implantation.''
Pre-emptive strike? Weed out? The headline writer's intentions were undoubtedly worthy - to highlight a potential tool for eliminating even mild retardation.
But the parents of children with Down syndrome took it personally. Many consider their children a special blessing. To them, the negative phrases and banner display of the story were a throwback to old stereotypes, leaving a message that people with Down syndrome aren't wanted.
Another complaint was that the story lacked input from parents of children with Down syndrome. That grievance was remedied in a second story Friday, which had feedback not only from parents but from a man with Down syndrome.
Aside from that, I found the Wednesday story to be well-balanced, raising the ethics issues that inevitably arise on the subject of genetic screening.
But Joan Blind objected to one other point, a statement that ``couples who don't want a child with Down syndrome have one alternative - abortion.''
In fact, said Blind, president of the Tidewater Down Syndrome Association, there's another option - adoption. ``The good news,'' she said, ``is that there is a waiting list in this country for people who want to adopt children with Down syndrome.''
That's good news indeed, as is a medical development that contributes to the quality of life. We just have to be more careful of the terms we couch it in.
IN THE HEADLINES. Readers never let us forget the importance, and sensitivity, of headlines.
Janet Long of Norfolk was upset by Tuesday's Pilot banner, ``Three children shot by father, police say.''
Think of young children of divorced parents ``who can read that paper and wonder the next time their father is visiting what might happen to them,'' she said.
``It is bad enough that O.J. Simpson has been in the paper. Children are talking about this and getting frightened.''
And several callers objected to the wording of a MetroNews headline last weekend, ``Chesapeake will get a black jurist.'' Chesapeake was getting a black judge, they pointed out. Why say ``jurist''?
My dictionary has ``judge'' and ``jurist'' as synonyms, but I agree with our callers. It's like calling an attorney a counselor-at-law. Why not use the familiar term?
A PENNEY FOR HER THOUGHTS. I hope J.C. Penney appreciates sales associate Sandy Harmon, who works at the cosmetics counter of its Military Circle store.
The loyal Harmon called last week to complain about an item in Larry Bonko's Feb. 16 column, ``Men on local TV who need a wardrobe overhaul.''
Bonko wrote of WTKR weather reporter Duane Harding, ``I have a hunch he buys his suits at J.C. Penney.''
Harmon was offended at the implicit slur against both the store's menswear and Dr. Duane.
``First of all, it's not a fact that Dr. Duane's suits are purchased at J.C. Penney's and, if they are, we do have specialists that know how to suit our clientele,'' she said. ``We think this is disrespectful and we should get an apology.''
Apology or no, I think Harmon got her point across nicely.
by CNB